Travel

Nothing ruins a trip faster than falling victim to a scam or bad deal. Read our tips to learn how to avoid travel scams such as phony offers for a free vacation or travel club memberships that don’t meet your expectation.

You can also learn about timeshares and what your rights are if you rent a vacation home in North Carolina.

Wherever your vacation takes you, keep the following tips in mind when making travel plans:

Read all contracts carefully before signing. Make sure all promises are put in writing, and keep good records in case you have a problem later.

Get details about a trip in writing and a confirmed reservation before you agree to pay anything.

If your travel deal involves a third party such as an online travel agency who is supposed to issue you a coupon to cover lodging or air fare, verify that the participating company (hotel, cruise ship, or airline) is in fact a partner of the travel agency and will honor the coupon.

Pay with a credit card instead of cash to improve your odds of getting a refund if the company goes out of business.

To check for complaints against a specific travel agent, travel package company or rental property landlord, call my consumer protection office toll-free at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM. You can also search for complaints online by entering the company name and the word “complaints” or “scam" but be aware that you may also find sites that promote the company.

We Can Help

If you spot a travel scam or have another travel related consumer complaint, file a complaint or call toll-free within North Carolina at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.